City approves former Waynesville leader as interim city manager

Published: Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 11:46 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 11:46 p.m.

Hendersonville City Council appointed the former town manager of Waynesville to the role of interim city manager as officials search for a permanent replacement for outgoing administrator Bo Ferguson.

Council members interviewed Lee Galloway, who retired from his Waynesville post in June, during a special meeting Nov. 29, according to Ferguson.

Mayor Barbara Volk said Galloway is "highly qualified" and was approved unanimously.

Ferguson, who is leaving to become deputy city manager over operations in Durham, has accepted a city manager's position in Durham, referred to Galloway as a friend and mentor who will be a great addition to the city over the next five months.

Galloway retired after a 39-year career in local government management, the last 18 of which were spent in Waynesville. His career included posts in North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia. He was born in Brevard and received his Bachelor of Arts from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Galloway "has been honored by many organizations as a result of his local government service, including membership in the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, being named Haywood County Person of the Year, and being designated a Main Street Champion by the N.C. Department of Commerce," city officials said in a news release.

"In North Carolina, it is common for towns and cities who are seeking a permanent city manager to employ an interim manager while the search takes place. Recently retired managers such as Galloway frequently fill these interim assignments providing experience and stability to the organization while the search for a permanent manager continues," the release says.

"The council felt that Galloway's experience in Waynesville would transfer well to Hendersonville, and is grateful for his willingness to lead the organization in the coming months. The council has not yet announced plans for the city manager search process."

Galloway will begin work on Dec. 17, two weeks before Ferguson's final day with the city. The agreement, approved by City Council, calls for his service to continue until a permanent manager is in place, which is expected to occur in late spring 2013.

Main Street Art

A fountain planned for downtown has been approved, but the gateway sculpture is going to have to wait.

City Council Thursday approved a new design by Berry Bate for a fountain that pays homage to the mountains in Henderson County and the streams that, long ago, helped carve out the valley Hendersonville sits in today.

The new concept for the fountain slated for Sixth Avenue and Main Street was what council had asked for – a piece of art that reflects the city itself. But council members did not see much of a change or reflection in the design for the gateway sculpture, a concept which seemed to dominate the corner of Seventh Avenue and Main Street.

The council passed on a vote for the gateway art, agreeing to take it up at a later meeting.

Human Rights Day

A debate arose over a proclamation for the United Nation's Human Rights Day. The proclamation passed 3-2, with Councilmen Ron Stephens and Jerry Smith voting against.

Stephens, who argued that the United States already has a Constitution guaranteeing equal rights, questioned whether the proclamation was in support of gay marriage.

At its Nov. 1 meeting, City Council asked staff to prepare changes to the city's noise ordinance as a result of discussions initiated by a Main Street resident complaining about the noise generated by a business.

The amendments include changing where the noise level is measured from 25 feet away from the property line to the property line itself; and changing the allowable decibel levels from 70 during the day and 60 after 11 p.m. to 55 and 45 decibels, respectively.

The newly revised ordinance will only apply to those residing in the downtown's tax district and will not apply to special events permitted by the city.

In other action, the council:

- Awarded a bid to Trace and Company Inc. for $1.62 million for phase three of the city's Main Street infrastructure improvements, after the lowest bidder for the project, Buchanan and Sons Inc. (at $1,295,202) withdrew.

- Agreed to reimburse the city from loan proceeds needed to purchase a new fire engine, complete phase 3 of the Main Street rehabilitation project and construct a new fire station. "In order to use the loan proceeds prior to the closing date, the City Council must pass a Declaration of Official Intent to reimburse itself for the related capital expenditures (of the projects)," Ferguson told the board.

- Approved the requested addition of 60 high-efficiency clothes washer rebates for city residents, bringing the total number of rebates in the city up to 180, effective through June 30, 2013. City Utilities Director Lee Smith said that the city, in its water conservation campaign, has received a greater response from customers interested in rebates than they anticipated.

Since July 1, the city has issued 118 high-efficiency clothes washer rebates, 67 high-efficiency toilet rebates and no smart irrigation system controller rebates, he told the council.

<p>Hendersonville City Council appointed the former town manager of Waynesville to the role of interim city manager as officials search for a permanent replacement for outgoing administrator Bo Ferguson. </p><p>Council members interviewed Lee Galloway, who retired from his Waynesville post in June, during a special meeting Nov. 29, according to Ferguson. </p><p>Mayor Barbara Volk said Galloway is "highly qualified" and was approved unanimously.</p><p>Ferguson, who is leaving to become deputy city manager over operations in Durham, has accepted a city manager's position in Durham, referred to Galloway as a friend and mentor who will be a great addition to the city over the next five months. </p><p>Galloway retired after a 39-year career in local government management, the last 18 of which were spent in Waynesville. His career included posts in North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia. He was born in Brevard and received his Bachelor of Arts from UNC-Chapel Hill.</p><p>Galloway "has been honored by many organizations as a result of his local government service, including membership in the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, being named Haywood County Person of the Year, and being designated a Main Street Champion by the N.C. Department of Commerce," city officials said in a news release. </p><p>"In North Carolina, it is common for towns and cities who are seeking a permanent city manager to employ an interim manager while the search takes place. Recently retired managers such as Galloway frequently fill these interim assignments providing experience and stability to the organization while the search for a permanent manager continues," the release says. </p><p>"The council felt that Galloway's experience in Waynesville would transfer well to Hendersonville, and is grateful for his willingness to lead the organization in the coming months. The council has not yet announced plans for the city manager search process."</p><p>Galloway will begin work on Dec. 17, two weeks before Ferguson's final day with the city. The agreement, approved by City Council, calls for his service to continue until a permanent manager is in place, which is expected to occur in late spring 2013.</p><p>Main Street Art</p><p>A fountain planned for downtown has been approved, but the gateway sculpture is going to have to wait.</p><p>City Council Thursday approved a new design by Berry Bate for a fountain that pays homage to the mountains in Henderson County and the streams that, long ago, helped carve out the valley Hendersonville sits in today.</p><p>The new concept for the fountain slated for Sixth Avenue and Main Street was what council had asked for – a piece of art that reflects the city itself. But council members did not see much of a change or reflection in the design for the gateway sculpture, a concept which seemed to dominate the corner of Seventh Avenue and Main Street. </p><p>The council passed on a vote for the gateway art, agreeing to take it up at a later meeting.</p><p>Human Rights Day</p><p>A debate arose over a proclamation for the United Nation's Human Rights Day. The proclamation passed 3-2, with Councilmen Ron Stephens and Jerry Smith voting against. </p><p>Stephens, who argued that the United States already has a Constitution guaranteeing equal rights, questioned whether the proclamation was in support of gay marriage.</p><p>Mayor Barbara Volk said the proclamation simply calls for "equal justice, decent housing, adequate health care and equal opportunity for education" of all people regardless of sexual orientation, religion, race, disability or economic status. </p><p>Volk made the motion in favor of the proclamation.</p><p>Noise Ordinance Amended</p><p>At its Nov. 1 meeting, City Council asked staff to prepare changes to the city's noise ordinance as a result of discussions initiated by a Main Street resident complaining about the noise generated by a business. </p><p>The amendments include changing where the noise level is measured from 25 feet away from the property line to the property line itself; and changing the allowable decibel levels from 70 during the day and 60 after 11 p.m. to 55 and 45 decibels, respectively.</p><p>The newly revised ordinance will only apply to those residing in the downtown's tax district and will not apply to special events permitted by the city.</p><p>In other action, the council: </p><p>- Awarded a bid to Trace and Company Inc. for $1.62 million for phase three of the city's Main Street infrastructure improvements, after the lowest bidder for the project, Buchanan and Sons Inc. (at $1,295,202) withdrew.</p><p>- Agreed to reimburse the city from loan proceeds needed to purchase a new fire engine, complete phase 3 of the Main Street rehabilitation project and construct a new fire station. "In order to use the loan proceeds prior to the closing date, the City Council must pass a Declaration of Official Intent to reimburse itself for the related capital expenditures (of the projects)," Ferguson told the board.</p><p>- Approved a budget amendment in the amount of $16,600 to fund architectural design, bidding and construction management services to repair the city-owned 36,000-square-foot Sugarloaf shell building. </p><p>- Approved the requested addition of 60 high-efficiency clothes washer rebates for city residents, bringing the total number of rebates in the city up to 180, effective through June 30, 2013. City Utilities Director Lee Smith said that the city, in its water conservation campaign, has received a greater response from customers interested in rebates than they anticipated. </p><p>Since July 1, the city has issued 118 high-efficiency clothes washer rebates, 67 high-efficiency toilet rebates and no smart irrigation system controller rebates, he told the council.</p>